Printing device



May 19, 1959 .L G. MCKAY PRINTING DEVICE Filed June 27, 1957 2 sheets-sheet I `Mw 19, 1959 I 9 J. G. MCKAY 2,887,047

PRINTING DEVICE Filed June 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @United btates Patent f) PRINTING DEVICE James G. McKay, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 27, 1957, Serial No. 668,378

8 Claims. (Cl. lol-329) This invention relates generally to rotary printing apparatus and more particularly, relates to important im-` provements in the printing assembly of rotary printing apparatus by means of which singular advantages in the adjustability and operation of the inking unit of such apparatus are realized.

Printing apparatus of the general type with which the invention is concerned is fully described in my Patent No. 2,735,678, issued February 21, 1956 for the invention entitled Folded Carton Feeding and Printing Device. This patent shows a printing machine which applies an imprint at a predetermined location on a folded carton by means of a pair of printing wheels mounted on a driven shaft. The printing wheels are suitably inked by a pair of inking wheels mounted on a second shaft laterally spaced above and parallel with the shaft mounting the printing wheels. Each inking wheel has a porous rubber disc supported between a pair of metal discs with an annular portion of the rubber disc protruding outwardly of the peripheral edges of the metal discs into engagement with a printing wheel. Each printing wheel has protruding type areas comprising bodies of type circumferentially spaced around the periphery of the wheel which are engaged by the protruding rubberI portion of the inking wheel. Contact with the printing areas is along the spaced type bodies only and hence, the rubber disc usually is subjected to uneven wear since the inking wheel is rotated by rotation of the printing wheel so that only the protruding printing areas come into contact with the rubber disc. This condition contributes to a tendency of the inking Wheel to have the ink unevenly distributed therein. Also, the ink in those areas of the inking disc which are not engaged during operation of the machine tends to dry up or coagulate whereby the ink from the inking wheel is improperly and irregularly transferred to the printing wheel.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a rotary printing device in which means are provided associated With the inking members to assure constant and even kneading of the protruding annular portion of 'the rubber disc independently of the printing wheel so as to substantially eliminate the disadvantages hereinabove described.

ln the apparatus of the said patent, it was possible to adjust the axial position of a printing wheel along its supporting shaft to obtain the imprint on the carton at a different predetermined location. This, of course, necessitated adjustment in the axial position of the inking wheel associated with the printing wheel to a coincident position. It is another important object of the invention to provide means which enable more rapid and efficient adjustment in the axial position of the inking wheel to coincide with the position to which the printing wheel has been adjusted. another object of the invention to provide saidindependent kneading means for the inking wheel which likewise are adjustable readily and easily to coincident positions with the inking wheels with which associated.

In connection with this objective, it is` "ice Another object ofthe invention is to provide a printing device of the characterdescribed in which said independent kneading means comprise a driven pressure roller arranged to bear against the protruding annular portion of the rubber inking disc so as to evenly and constantly knead the edge of said disc independently of the operation of the printing wheel with which the inking `wheel is associated whereby to assure even distribution of ink and ready transfer from the inking wheel.

Another object of the invention is to providea printing device of the character described in which said pressure roller is resiliently clamped on the supporting shaft therefor so as to rotate with the shaft, albeit, which is slidable axially along the shaft merely by applying transverse force thereagainst.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds. A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being contemplated that minor variations therein may occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings wherein the same characters of reference are employed to designate the same or` equivalent parts throughout the several iigures thereof:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing machine for imprinting on folded cartons and having the printing assembly embodied in the invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken through said machine to show the printing assembly of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the printing assembly of Fig. 2 and specifically showing the pressure roller of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the printing assembly along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 and in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through the pressure roller along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and in the direction indicated.

Generally, the invention is concerned with the printing assembly of a printing machine capable of applying an imprint to individual cartons or containers fed past the printing element of the machine. For purposes of description of the invention, illustrated in Fig. 1 is a printing machine designated generally by the reference character 10 which is suitable for printing on folded cartons automatically fed from a magazine carried on the ma chine. The machine 10 is the same type as shown in my Patent No. 2,735,678. However, the principles of the invention hereinafter disclosed may have advantageous application to other types of printing machines or devices for imprinting on a continuously fed line of articles.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the printing machine 10 may be seen to include a pair of side plates 11 and 12 between which the various mechanisms of the machine are supported. Suitably spaced apart by rigid spacer bars or rods, such as identified at 13, 13 and 14, as well as by others, the plates 11 and 12 are provided with bearing openings in which are journalled the various shafts for supporting the rotating mechanisms of the machines. These shafts likewise function to maintain the plates 11, 12

suitably spaced apart. Such a shaft 15 supports a pair of printing wheels 16 and 17 and shaft 18 supports a pair f of inking wheels 19 and 20. An electric motor 21 is mounted on a suitable platform 22 supported front and back by the spacer bars 13 and 13. The motor 21 may t be connected by means of a flexible drive member, such n as the sprocket chain 23, to suitable sprocket wheels pro# vided on theshafts desired to be driven by saidmoztor.

3 Inithe machine 10, the shaft mounting the printing wheels is a driven shaft.

The structure of the inking and printing wheels has been explained` in my Patent No.,2,735,678 as wellas in certain other ofmy patents, such as Nos. 2,562,627 issued .Tulyr3 l, :1.951, 2,634,676 issued April 1,4, 19753, and 2,607,293 issued Augustl9, 1952. VIn the machine 1t), it will be suicient. to appreciate-that` the printing wheels 16 and17 each include` a pair of side plates 24 and 25 between which are sandwiched resilient assemblages 26 of type frictionally heldin place. Each of the side plates 24 and 25 have knurled, peripheral edges 27 arranged to engage resilient rubberirollers, one of whichv is seen at 28 Ain Fig. 2, mounted Aenjghe,spacer shaft 29. Cartons, such as 30, are engaged between theplates24 and 25 and the resilient.rubberrrQllerSpZS,andpreached out ofthe machine after receivinganw1 imprint from the type assemblages 26, operation of the machinebeing continuous.

Qther mechanisms of machineA 10fwi1l be apparent from my Patent No. 2,735,678, such as` the automatic counting mechanism 30 for tabulating the` number of` cartons `imprinted, and the magazine assembly 3 1 for stacking the cartons, said assembly 31 including means for feeding ythe cartons individually in predetermined timed relationship for automatic continuous imprinting operation of said machine.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the printing and inking wheels 16 and 19 respectively are supported on parallel, spaced axes with the inking wheels each `presenting a protruding annular portion 32 ofl the rubber disc thereof which engages a printing wheel totransfer ink to the protruding type assemblages 26. The protruding disc portion 32 .has tapered side walls (as seen in Fig. l) so that the width of the annular edge of said portion 32 is less than the distance `between the side plates 24 and 25 of the printing wheel. Since the type assemblages 26 are circumferentially spaced apart on the periphery of the wheel, the intermediate spaces 33 (Fig. 1) between type assemblages contribute to thecondition where the portion 32 of the rubber inking disc is not physically engaged with any part of the printing wheel when interposed in a said space. Thus, as the printing wheels are driven on the shaft 15, the type assemblages 26 intermittently engage the portion 32 of the rubber disc. This uneven or irregular engagement with the peripheral surface of the portion 32 of the rubber disc results in the disadvantages heretofore explained which this invention substantially eliminates as hereinafter explained.

I provide Va pressure roller designated generallyy 35, one for each of the inking wheelsvof the machine. Said pressure roller 35 is mounted on a shaft 36 journalled between theside plates 11 and 12 of the machine, said shaft 36 mounting a pulley wheel 37 at one end thereof arranged to be driven from the sprocket chain 23. The roller 35 is resiliently clamped on the shaft 36 vby means of resilient friction means so as to rotate therewith. Said friction means comprises an elongate leaf spring 38 bent to provide legs 46 and 241 crossed over at one end of the spring to provide a closed loop 42 integral with said legs. The free ends 43 and 44 respectively of said legs likewise are crossed to provide the crotch 45. In this condition, the spring 38 is secured to a roller 35 by means of threaded fasteners 47 engaged in the side wall 46 of the roller. One such fastener is passed through the loop 42 and the other is extended ybetween said free ends 43 and 44 'seated against the crotch 45. When the roller is mounted on shaft 3:6, said shaft is extended between the legs 41 and 404 tobe resiliently gripped thereby, the spring in turn being ,held rigid at both ends thereof on opposite sides of the shaft 36. The lspring 33 is formed of at metal of suflicient gauge to assure that the legs 40 and 41 frictionally grip the shaft 36 therebetween so that when said shaft is rotated, the roller also is rotated. Suitable designing inay provide for wall 46 against which the spring 3S is.. juxtaposed t0. ,be recessed lor .countersunk- 4 rIt thus will be seen that the roller is driven by the shaft 36. Also, said roller 35 may be slided along the shaft merely by exerting a gentle force transversely thereagainst, the resilient frictional grip of the legs and 41 permitting such limited sliding of the roller.

The diameter of the roller is such that when mounted on the shaft 36, the roller bears `against the protruding portion 32 of an inking Wheel substantially depressing the peripheral edge thereof as seen at 48 in Fig. 3 as much as one quarter of an inch. Thus, as roller 35 is rotated by shaft 36, a continuous pressure is exerted radially inward against the rubber disc independentlyl of the rotan tion of the printing wheel with which the inking wheel is associated. This lcontinuousv kneading assures even distribution of the ink in the rubber disc and prevents coagulation of the ink so that transfer of ink to the printing wheel is even and steady. Since the pressure rollers and printing wheels are driven, they may be synchronized, however, some slipping between the pressure roller and inking disc is not objectionable which may eliminate the need for such synchronization.

The pressure roller 35 may be formed of any suitably hard material such as hard rubber, plastic, wood or metal: As seen in Fig. .4, the width of the peripheral edge of the roller is at least equal to that of the peripheral edge of rubber portion 32 so that the entire peripheral surface of portion 32 is subjected to pressure of the roller 35.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 5, means associated with the inking Wheels to enable same to be adjusted axially along the supporting shaft 1S are shown. Said means comprise a metal bifurcated yoke member 50 having elongate legs 51 and 52 spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate an inking Wheel therebetween. The said legs are of equal length and greater in length than the radius of the inking wheel. Each leg segment has a notch 53 open* ing `to the free end thereof of sufficient dimension to receive the shaft 13 therein. Along the side edge of each leg is provided a notch 54 located adjacent the connecting leg 55, said notches opening in the same direction on the same side of the yoke 50. A thumb screw 56 is threadedly engaged through a transverse opening in the connecting leg .55 with the shank of the screw 56 axially movable between said legs 51 and 52.

The yoke 50 is mounted on the machine 10 with the shaft 18 received in ythe notches 53 and the spacer bar 14 received in the notches 54. The depth of the notches 54 are such that the shank of the thumb screw is directly in line with said spacer bar 14. Thus, the yoke 50 is supported on the shaft 18 with the inking wheel between the legs 51 and 52 and clamped by screwing the thumb screw 56 down on the spacer bar 14. Thus clamped, the inking wheel is prevented from moving axially along shaft 18, although free to rotate. To adjust the axial position of the inking wheel, the screw 56 is loosened and the yoke and associated Ainking wheel together are slidable along shaft 18 to the desired-position and clamped again. The lock nut 58 engaged over the shank of the thumb screw may be provided to prevent inadvertent displacement of the thumb screw.

It will be appreciated that a yoke 5d is provided for each inking wheel. The resilient frictional mounting of the pressure rollers 35 vby means of spring 3S will enable same also to be slided along shaft 36 to positions coinciding with the inking wheels for kneading same independently of the printing wheels. Thus, adjustment of the inkingv wheels and pressure rollers is rapid and easy and does not require anymore than ioosening of a thumb screw on yoke 50. Such adjustability is highly advantageous since it enables the position of the printing wheels on their supporting shaft to be adjusted without time consuming and laborious handling of the inking Wheels associated therewith. It will be apparent that the yoke 50 and resilient mounting of rollers 35 will also enable same to be moved out of the way so that the printing wheels can more easilymbey adjustedin position on shaft 15.

It is believed the invention has been described in suicient detail to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. It is desired that the invention be construed in the broadest scope as set forth in the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

l. In a rotary printing machine having a printing wheel carring a plurality of type bodies circumferentially spaced apart along the perimeter of the wheel, an inking wheel having a resilient disc rigidly supported between a pair of side plates with an annular portion of the disc protruding beyond the peripheral edges of said plates and engageable with the type bodies, and driven pressure means rotatably mounted to continuously exert pressure radially inward against said protruding annular portion evenly along the perimetric surface of said portion as the inking wheel is rotated, a driven shaft mounting said pressure means, said pressure means carrying resilient means for frictionally mounting said pressure means to rotate with said shaft, albeit, permitting limited sliding movement of the pressure means along said shaft when a force is applied transversely thereagainst.

2. In a machine as described in claim l in which said pressure means comprises a pressure roller.

3. In a machine as described in claim 1 in which said pressure means comprises a pressure roller and said resilient means comprises a spring having said shaft gripped thereby with the spring secured to the roller on opposite sides of the shaft.

4. In a rotary printing machine having a printing wheel carrying a plurality of type assemblages spaced apart along the periphery of the wheel and an inking wheel arranged to engage said type assemblages for transferring ink thereto when the printing wheel is rotated, said inking wheel including a rubber disc having an annular portion thereof arranged to engage the type assemblages, means for applying a uniform pressure radially inward against said annular portion comprising a driven pressure roller having the peripheral edge thereof abutting against said annular portion, said roller being driven to rotate the inking wheel independently, a driven shaft mounting said pressure roller, said roller having means providing resilient frictional engagement of the roller on said shaft whereby the roller will rotate with the shaft and be capable of limited sliding movement along said shaft by means of a `force applied transversely against the roller.

5. In a rotary printing machine having a printing wheel carrying a plurality of type assemblages spaced apart along the periphery of the wheel and an inking wheel arranged to engage said type assemblages for transferring ink thereto when the printing wheel is rotated, said inking wheel including a rubber disc having an annular portion thereof arranged to engage the type assemblages, means for applying a uniform pressure radially inward against said annular portion comprising a driven pressure roller having the peripheral edge thereof abutting against said annular portion, said roller being driven to rotate the inking wheel independently, a driven shaft mounting said pressure roller, said roller having means providing resilient frictional engagement of the roller on said shaft whereby the roller will rotate with the shaft and be capable of limited sliding movement along said shaft by means of a force applied transversely against the roller, said last mentioned means comprising a spring member having a pair of elongate legs forming a closed loop at one end of the member, said legs having free ends crossed one over the other, said driven shaft extended between the legs frictionally engaged thereby with the spring secured to the roller on opposite sides of the driven shaft.

6. In a rotary printing machine of the character described, a printng assembly comprising, in combination, a printing wheel having bodies of type spaced apart along the perimeter of the wheel, said printing Wheel being selec tively adjustable along the axis of rotation thereof, an inking wheel mounted on a shaft spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the printing wheel, said inking wheel including a pair of spaced side discs having a rubber inking disc sandwiched therebetween with an annular portion of the inking disc protruding beyond the peripheral edges of the side discs into engagement with the type bodies, a yoke member including a pair of elongate legs having the inking wheel received therebetween, said member being slidably mounted on said shaft and having releasable clamp means for locking the yoke member and inking wheel together in a position coincident with any position of the printing wheel along the axis of rotation thereof, said annular portion to exert pressure radially inward and a pressure roller mounted on a driven shaft for rotation with said shaft, said roller arranged to engage against thereagainst for uniform kneading of said rubber disc.

7. In a rotary printing machine of the character described, a printing assembly comprising, in combination, a printng wheel having bodies of type spaced apart along the perimeter of the wheel, said printing wheel being selectively adjustable along the axis of rotation thereof, an inking wheel mounted on a shaft spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the printng wheel, said inking wheel including a pair of spaced side discs having a rubber inking disc sandwiched therebetween with an annular portion of the inking disc protruding beyond the peripheral edges of the side discs into engagement with the type bodies, a yoke member including a pair of elongate legs having the inking wheel received therebetween, said member being slidably mounted on said shaft and having releasable clamp `means for locking the yoke member and inking wheel together in a position coincident with any position of the printing wheel along the axis of rotation thereof, and a pressure roller mounted on a driven shaft and arranged to engage against said annular portion to exert pressure radially inward thereagainst for uniform kneading of the rubber disc, said pressure roller carrying a leaf spring frictionally engaged with the driven shaft to cause the roller to rotate therewith, said leaf spring permitting limited sliding movement of the roller along said driven shaft.

8. In a rotary printng machine having a printing wheel carrying a plurality of type bodies spaced along the periphery of the wheel, an inking wheel having a resilient, rubber disc rigidly supported between a pair of side plates with an annular portion of the disc protruding beyond the peripheral edges of the side plates and engageable with the type bodies, a pressure roller mounted to continuously exert substantial pressure radially inward evenly along the perimetric surface of said portion as the inking wheel is rotated, a shaft mounting said roller, said roller carrying resilient means for frictionally mounting same to rotate with the shaft and permitting selective sliding movement thereof along the shaft, and drive means connected to rotate said shaft and inking wheel one relative the other.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Morse July 2, 1935 

